Channel 13 US Correspondent Under Scrutiny Over Ties to Lobbyist Jay Footlik
Channel 13 US correspondent Suleiman Maswadeh faces scrutiny after staying at the Virginia home of lobbyist Jay Footlik, a central figure in the Qatargate investigation.
A new journalistic controversy has emerged surrounding the personal ties of Suleiman Maswadeh, the US correspondent for Channel 13. According to an investigative report published by Haaretz, the journalist stayed for about two weeks last month at the Virginia home of Jay Footlik, an American lobbyist linked to Qatari interests and a central figure in the ongoing "Qatargate" affair. Maswadeh maintained that he rented the property legally and that the two are longtime friends.
Connections to Lobbying and Broadcasts from the Property
The residence in question is registered under Footlik's name in local real estate registries. The address has previously appeared in documentation associated with Footlik’s lobbying firm, Third Circle, and in active contracts with the Qatari embassy in Washington for the 2025–2026 period. Furthermore, reports indicate that Maswadeh broadcasted live reports from the home's courtyard on at least two occasions before permanently relocating to Washington.
"Maswadeh and Jay Footlik are longtime personal friends. Following Suleiman's relocation for his diplomatic posting in Washington, he stayed briefly for two weeks to organize his affairs in his friend's empty apartment," Channel 13 stated in response.
The Qatargate Probe and Police Investigation
Footlik's alleged involvement draws heightened scrutiny due to the broader "Qatargate" investigation. Police have examined suspicions that Footlik's lobbying firm was involved in funneling payments to Eli Feldstein, a former adviser and spokesman to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in exchange for promoting messaging designed to improve Qatar's image while portraying Egypt negatively as a mediator.
Channel 13 defended its correspondent, asserting that while staying at the property constituted an error in judgment, it had zero bearing on his professional work. The network emphasized that Maswadeh never covered Footlik or his corporate clients, standing firmly behind his journalistic integrity.
